Inhaler



Dec. 15, 1936. L, H MORIN' 2,064,314

INHALER Filed Dec. 28, 1955 A INVENTOR. ou/5 /WO/.v//v

Patented Dec. 15, 1936 INHALER Louis H. Morin, New York, N. Y.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to S. Sternau & Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application December 28, 1933, Serial No.704,226

This invention relates to inhaler ldevices and the object of theinvention is to provide a device of this class in connection with whichmedicinalV or other substances are used-as an inhaling agent, such, forexample, as germicides, inhaling salts, or the like, which may be fluidor a combination of iluid and solids; a further object being to providean inhaler device in the form of a tube, with means at one end fordetachably and rotatably supporting an inhaling head or nozzle inconnection therewith, and further with means at the other end of thetube for coupling a protector casing with the device to guard andprotect the same as well as to provide means for supporting the completedevice in connection with a pocket or other support; a further objectbeing to provide means whereby the head or nozzle is frictionallyretained in a closed position and capable of movement into two dierentpositions for distinct uses, with means on the tube for indicating suchuses; a further object being to provide a device of the class described,wherein the inhaling head and the coupling sleeve or cap thereforinclude, as'a unit part thereof, a single tube extending downwardly intothe tubular body of the device to a point adjacent the lower endthereof; and with these and other objects in view, the inventionconsists in a device of the class and vfor the purpose speci'ed, whichis simple in construction, efficient in use and which is constructed ashereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, ofwhich the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate partsof my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters ineach of the views, and

in which:

' Fig. 1 is a side and sectional view of the device made according to myinvention.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a. view similarto Fig. 3 showing parts in a different position.

Fig. 5 is a side and sectional view of one end portion of the device,the section being diagrammatic on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4, showing the parts in anotherposition.

Fig. '1 is a perspective view of the head or nozzle detached.

7 Claims.

(Cl. 12S-200) Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the upper end of thedevice with the nozzle removed; and,

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2. For the purpose ofillustrating one method of carrying my invention into effect, I haveshown 5 in the accompanying drawing, an inhaler consisting of a tube orcontainer I0, preferably composed of glass or other suitable material,the upper end of which is open, and the lower end Illa of which isclosed as clearly seen in Fig. 2.

A coupling sleeve I I is mounted within and secured to the open end ofthe tube I0 by a. suitable cement, and this sleeve protrudes beyond theend of the tube and is externally threaded' as indicated at i2 toreceive a detachable closure 15 cap I3, the latter having a skirtportion I4 which overlaps the upper end of the tube I0. The outersurface of the skirt portion of the 'cap I0 is preferably knurled asindicated at I5 to facilitate attachment and detachment of the cap, as20 will be apparent. The upper end wall I6 of the cap is reduced to forma shoulder portion I1 and the end wall I6 is provided centrally with anaperture |8lto receive a rivet pin I 9 of a head or nozzle 20, thelatter being rotatably mounted 25 with respect to the cap, including onits lower surface a pin 2| entering an arc-shaped groove 22 in the endwall I6 to limit the rotary movement of the head 20 in two directions.

A conduit or pipe 23 is secured to the end wall 30 I6 and opensoutwardly through the upper surface thereof and extends downwardly intothe tube or container I6 to a point adjacent the lower closed end Iathereof, as is indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The end wall I6 isalso provided in the construction shown with two conduits or passages24, 24a which open into the container I0 and outwardly through the uppersurface of the end wall I6 and with which the discharge passage 25 ofthe nozzle or head 20 and/or the air supply passage 26 of said head areadapted to register in the several positions of the head in the distinctuses of the device.

The passage 26 opens outwardly through one side of the head adjacent thelower end thereof as indicated at 26a, whereas the passage 25 has anangular oiset 25a to bring the same in radial alinement with the pipe23as well as with one of the passages 24, 24a. The head 25 includes at itslower end an annular downwardly directed ilange 21, which'seats in thegroove I1 so as to dispose the outer surface of the head in alinementwith the corresponding surface of the cap I3, and the ange portion 21 ofthe head 25 is i alsopreferably knurled on its outer surface to 5153ifacilitate the rotation of the head into the several positions ofadjustment thereof.

A packing ring or gasket 28 is disposed between the upper surface of thecoupling sleeve Il and the lower surface `of the end wall I6 to form aseal preventing the discharge of the fluid or other substance 29 fromthe container between the sleeve II and the cap I3. At 30, I have showna conca-vo-convex or cup-shaped spring, which is arranged upon the rivetpin I9 and held in place by the rivet head I9a. the spring being cut outas seen at 30a to span the pipe 23, thus preventing the rotation of saidspring when the head or nozzle 20 is rotated. It is also preferred thattwo apertures 39h be disposed therein in alinement with the apertures24, 24a to complete the communication from the chamber of the containerthrough said apertures 24, 24a, the spring 30 serving to tensionallysupport the head 20 upon the cap I3 and at the same time to permit therotation of said head in the use of the device.

Mounted in the protruding portion of the end wall I6 is a springactuated ball 3I, which is adapted to register with a groove 32 formedon the inner surface of the flange 2l at such point as to frictionallyretain the head 20 in its neutral or closed position as seen in Fig. 6of the drawing when the device is not in use. To indicate this position,an arrow including the word Close is arranged on the outer surface ofthe tube I0 as indicated at 33, note Fig. l. Another arrow, entitledSpray" is indicated at 34 with the direction indicated to the right asviewed in Fig. 1, whereas a third arrow entitledV Inhale shown at 35indicates a turn to the left.

With this indicating means, if the head 20 is held by the fingers of onehand against rotation and the cap I3 is held by the fingers of the otherhand and turned to the right, the parts will assume the positionindicated in Fig. 3 and diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 2, that isto say, with the discharge passage 25 in registering alinement with thepipe 23 and the air passage 26 in alinement with the aperture 24.

It will thus be seen that if the head 20 is placed in the nostril andthe user draws inwardly through the nostril, the fluid 29iof thecontainer I0 will be drawn upwardly through the pipe 23 and dischargedthrough the passage 25 in a douche or spray-like manner. It will also beapparent that by turning the cap I3 to the left as indicated by thearrow 35, the parts will be moved into the position shown in Fig. 4 anddiagrammatically lillustrated in Fig. 5, wherein the passage25`registers with the aperture 24a and the air passage 26 registers withthe pipe 23. In this use of the device, air will be drawn into thedevice through the pipe 23 downwardly into and through the fluid 29, andthis saturated air, or what may be termed vapor, will rise from thefluid and be discharged into the nostril through the passage 25. In theneutral or closed position of the device, that is to say, when the ball3| is in engagement with the groove 32, the passages 25 and 26 aredisposed intermediate and out of registering alinement with the pipe 23as well as the apertures 24 and 24a as is clearly seen in Fig. 6 of thedrawing. At this time, it will be understood that my invention is notnecessarily limited to the4 specific arrangement of ports and aperturesherein disclosed, nor to the specific means herein illustrated forcontrolling and regulating the movement of the head or the degree ofrotation thereof. ,y At the vclosed end-of the tube or container I 0 isa guard can 36 cemented or otherwise secured thereto and including adome portion 31 covering and protecting the end Illa of the tube, andalso having an externally threaded portion 38 by means of which a guardcasing 39 may be detachably coupled with the cap 36, the casing being inthreaded engagement with the threaded portion 38 as clearly indicated inFig. 1 of the drawing.

The casing 39 is preferably in the form of a tube of metal, rubber,Celluloid, thermo setting type of phenol condensation resins or anyother suitable material and may include a plug 40 at the closed endthereof having a flexible packing or gasket 4I on its inner surface,against which the discharge and contracted end of the head 20 is adaptedto rest when the casing 39 is mounted in position as seen in Fig. l ofthe drawing. The casing 39 also preferably includes a spring clip 42 ofany desired or conventional form, by means of which the complete devicemay be supported' in a pocket or in connection with any other support inthe manner of mounting and supporting fountain pens and similar devices.

It will be understood that the tube or container I0 may have arrangedtherein any desired type of medicinal preparation in the form of a fluidor a combination of solids and fluids, and these ingredients may act asgermicides for various kinds and classes of nasal and throat treatmentor may be in the form of smelling salts or other ingredients.

It will be'understood that the fluid or other contents of the containerI0 is inserted therein by removal of the cap I3 together with the head20 and pipe 23, thus providing a quick and efficient means of refillingthe device, and by virtue of the simplicity of the construction of thedevice and the substantially straight lines thereof, the same becomesvery compact for shipment and transportation as well as in use, theouter casing in conjunction with the guard cap forming means forreinforcing and protecting the complete devices, especially when not inuse, thus insuring long, durable life with a reasonable amount of care.It willl also appear that by virtue of the simplicity of the mechanicalparts of the device as well as the manner of operation the entire devicebecomes substantially foolproof.

It will be apparent that while I have shown certain details ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, I am not necessarilylimited to these details and various changes in and modifications of theconstruction herein shown and described may be made within the scope ofthe appended claims without 'departing from the spirit of my inventionor sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A nasal applicator comprising a tubular container having a singleinterior chamber for fluid medicament or the like, an end wall at oneend of said container having separate conduits therethrough, one of saidconduits being extended downwardly into the interior of said containerbelow the normal level of fluid contained therein a nozzle headrotatably mounted on said end wall and having a lower side in surfacekcontact therewith, said head having a passage extending from the tipthereof to said lower side and having a second separate passageextending from said lower side to the atmosphere, said head passagesbeing adapted selectively to register with said end Wall conduits withsaid tip passage and said extendedconduit in registry in one relativeposition of said head and end wall and with said second passage inregistry with said extended conduit in another relative position of saidhead and end wall.

2. A nasal applicator comprising a tubular container having a singleinterior chamber for fluid medicament or the like, an end wall at oneend of said container having separate conduits therethrough, one of saidconduits being extended downwardly into the interior of said containerbelow the normal level of fluid contained therein, a nozzle headrotatably mounted on said end wall and havinga lower side in surfacecontact therewith, said head having a passage extending from the tipthereof to said lower side and having a second separate passageextending from said lower side to the asmosphere, said head passagesbeing adapted selectively to register with said end Wall conduits withsaid tip passage and said extended conduit in registry in one relativeposition of said head and end Wall and with said second passage inregistry with said extended conduit in another relative position of saidhead and end wall, and means for limiting relative rotation between saidhead and end wall to movement between said named relative positions.

3. A nasal applicator comprising a tubular container having a singleinterior chamber for fluid medicament or the like, and end wall at oneend of said container having separate conduits therethrough, one of saidconduits being extended downwardly into tl'e interior of said containerbelow the normal level of fluid contained therein, a nozzle headrotatably mounted on said end wall and having a lower side in surfacecontact therewith, spring means constantly holding such contactingsurfaces against each other under spring tension, said head having apassage extending from the tip thereof to said lower side and having asecond separate passage extending from said lower side to theatmosphere, said head passages being adapted selectively to registerwith said end wall conduits with said tip passage and said extendedconduit in registry in one relative position of said head and end walland with said second passage in registry with said extended conduit inanother relative position of said head and end wall, means for limitingrelative rotation between said head and end wall to movement betweensaid named relative positions, and means on the device for indicatingthe several positions of the head and end wall.

4. A nasal applicator comprising a tubular container having a singleinterior chamber for fluid medicament or the like, an end wall at oneend of said container having .separate conduits therethrough, one ofsaid conduits being extended downwardly into the interior of saidcontainer below the normal level of fluid contained therein, a nozzlehead rotatably mounted on said end wall and having a lower side insurface contact therewith, spring means constantly holding suchcontacting surfaces against each other under spring tension, said-headhaving a passage extending from the tip thereof to said lower side andhaving a second separate passage extending from said lower side to theatmosphere, said head passages being adapted selectively to registerwith said end wall conduits with said tip passage and said extendedconduit in registry in one relative position of said head and' end walland with said second passage in registry with said extended conduit inanother relative position o1 said head and end wall, and'with none ofsaid passages and conduits in registry in an intermediate position,means for limiting relative rotation between said head and end wall tomovement between said registry effecting relative position, and detentmeans for holding said head and end wall in said intermediate position.

5.` A nasal applicator comprising a tubular container having a singleinterior chamber for fluid medicament or the like, an end wall at oneend of said container having three conduits therethrough, one of saidconduits being extended downwardly into the interior of said containerbelow the normal level of the fluid contained therein and the remainingconduits opening into said container above said level, a nozzle headrotatably mounted on said end wall and having a lower side in surfacecontact therewith, said head having a passage extending from the tipthereof -to said lower side and having a second separate passageextending from said lowed side to the atmosphere, said head passagesbeing adapted selectively to register with said end wall conduits withsaid tip passage and said extended conduit in registry while said secondpassage and one of said remaining conduits are in registry, said headpassages also being adapted selectively to register with said end wallconduits with said second passage in registry with said extended conduitwhile said tip passage registers with the other of said remainingconduits.

6. A nasal applicator comprising a tubular container having a singleinterior chamber for fluid medicament or the like, an end wall at oneend of said container having three conduits therethrough, one of saidAconduits being extended downwardly into the interior of said containerbelow the normal level of the fluid contained therein and the remainingconduits opening into said container above said level, a nozzle headrotatably mounted on said end wall and having a lower side in surfacecontact therewith, said head having a passage extending from the tiptrereof to said lower side and having a second separate passageextending from said lower side to the atmosphere, said head passagesbeing adapted selectively to register with said end wall conduits withsaid tip passage and said extended conduit in registry while said secondpassage and one of said remaining conduits are in registry, said headpassages also being adapted selectively to register with said end wallconduits with said second passage in registry with said extended conduitwhile said tip passage registers with the other of said remainingconduits, said end wall having an arcuate groove therein, and a pinextending from said head into said groove, said groove being ofsufficient length to limit rotation between said head and end wall tomovement between said named alternative registering positions. y

7. A nasal applicator comprising a container having a single enclosedchambei` for fluid medicament, separate conduits communicating with theinterior of said chamber, oneof said conduits being extended downwardlyinto the interior of said chamber below the normal level of fluidtherein, a nozzle head rotatably mounted on said container and having adispensing passage and an air vent passage extending therethrough, saiddispensing passage being 'registered with said extended conduit and saidanother of said conduits in a second relative position of said head andcontainer whereby air is forced through said fluid and thence throughsaid dispensing passage in a vapor-laden state upon application ofsuction of such dispensing 5 passage.

LOUIS H. MORIN.

